Jacquie Eshleman has resigned as the head coach of Gannon University's acrobatics & tumbling team after accepting the inaugural head coaching position with Iona University's new program.
Eshleman established the Gannon program as a national power in her five seasons with the Golden Knights after her hire in the summer of 2017. She led the Golden Knights to a National Runner-Up finish in the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association Championships in Eugene, Oregon, in April 2022. She was named NCATA Coach of the Year for the second time.
Assistant coach Brandy Duren has been promoted to head coach for Gannon.
"I am so sad to be leaving Gannon but have no doubt they will be in incredible hands with Brandy and the administrative team here," Eshleman said. "This program and group of young women have been such a pleasure to coach both on and off the mat. A piece of my heart will always be with this program, and even more so with this current team. They have been incredible to coach this year, with so much talent as athletes, and they are even better people. I have no doubt this program's tradition of excellence and family will continue on just as strong as it was with me now that I will no longer be the head coach."
Gannon Director of Athletics Lisa Goddard McGuirk thanked Eshleman for her contributions in raising the program to new levels.
"We are grateful for the time, dedication, and leadership that Jacquie has demonstrated throughout her tenure at Gannon, not only to our student-athletes but to our department and the institution as a whole," said Goddard McGuirk. "She has taken our program to new heights, and I know that our program will continue to achieve at the national level because of the foundation she has built. We wish Jacquie all the best and continued success in her new endeavors."
Gannon placed second in the NCATA Championships in 2022 and finished the season with a 10-2 overall record. The Golden Knights defeated eight nationally ranked teams before losing to unbeaten Baylor University in the National Finals. It was Baylor's seventh consecutive NCATA title.
Gannon has a strong core group back to lead this year's team.
"I will always be supporting the Golden Knights and cannot wait to watch this team win a national championship this spring," Eshleman said. "The talent and upperclassmen leadership, especially from the seniors and the four super seniors who returned, is unparalleled, which makes me even more confident in this team's continued success."
The Golden Knights compiled a 27-10 dual record during Eshleman's tenure, including a 16-2 record over the past two seasons.
"I just want to say 'thank you' to all my administrators and support staff here at Gannon, especially Lisa and Meghan (Morphy), who have both been amazing mentors and guides, and I do not know where I would be without them," said Eshleman. "Our entire administrative team in athletics, the university, athletic training, and so many more have just been incredible these past five years, and I look forward to watching from afar the continued success of all athletic programs here at Gannon, especially the acrobatics and tumbling team.
"I also want to thank all my alumni, athletes, and parents of the young women here for entrusting your daughters to me. I have no doubt the next head coach will be just as supportive, loving, and helpful in guiding them through these next years of their life on and off the mat. I will miss Erie and the Gannon Family, but I am excited for this new journey, and forever grateful to Gannon and my athletes who I have had the pleasure to coach and watch grow over the past five years. I cannot wait to watch them continue to be amazing and inspirational to all around them."
Eshleman has been a head coach for nine seasons, including four at Alderson Broaddus, where she was also honored as NCATA Coach of the Year in 2015. She will get to build an acrobatics & tumbling program from scratch at Iona, which is in New Rochelle, New York.
